Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Hunt.
AT: Thoughts are italicized.
Telepathy conversations italicized.
Price of Time
10) Missing Return
Davis Mansion (Tokyo):
The sun's rays seeped into Mai's bedroom window as the young school girl began to stir.
'Today is the day we see each other again,' Mai thought to herself as she begun to get out of bed or so she thought. Looking back at her cozy bed she noticed that not only was her body still sound asleep but she was not having another one of her dreams either. 'What is going on here?' Mai wondered just as her bedroom door opened revealing Emme and Devon.
"Oh my …" Emme continued not finishing her sentence as concern crossed the older girl's features. "Mai what happened?" Emme asked worriedly her gaze moving back and forth from Mai's body lying in the bed to her transparent form standing beside the bed.
'I'm not sure Emme,' Mai replied to both Devon an Emme in her mind still unable to speak, a hint of worry cracking her thoughts. Devon soon found himself checking over Mai's body putting his hand on her wrist and checking her pulse was the first of his actions.
"Everything seems to be normal, pulse normal and so is her breathing," Devon announced as he kneeled beside Mai's bedside.
'If you call this normal,' Mai comment as yet again Mai's bedroom door opened this time it was Yun and Kana who entered.
"Devon is everything ok with Mai?" Yun asked curiously after noticing the bodyguard kneeling at Mai's bedside.
'Yes Yun, everything is just great,' Mai responded less then amused that her younger guardian had yet to notice her transparent form.
Yun and Kana both took a step back once hearing Mai's thoughts and seeing her transparent form standing before them. The two guardians glanced back and forth between Mai's body sleeping in the bed and the young school girl's transparent form standing next to Emme.
"Mai I'm not sure what you consider great but this seems to me to be a big problem," Kana replied as a matter of factly, sounding almost like a certain work –a- holic Narcissist they all knew well and some loved in the process.
'Well there's really nothing we can do about it now, so we should just concentrate on helping the others as soon as possible,' Mai countered as she now stood over by the window looking out.
"Mai there's something you're not telling us," Emme stated catching Mai off guard as her transparent form visible flinched.
Taking a few minutes to respond due to Mai weighing the pros and cons of telling her sister and friends, the young school girl broke the silence obviously making up her mind on what to say. 'Ok Ok you guys win,' Mai thought as she began to reveal the happenings of her latest dream.
"Was there any doubt?' Yun wondered sarcastically as Mai rolled her eyes before recalling the events of her dream.
Mai's Dream: Flashback
"Mai dear today were going to work on the ins and outs of your out of body experiences along with barriers and shields," Yoko announced giving Mai a little time to get prepared after entering her dream state.
'With all the out of body experience I've racked up the last couple of months I thought I would have been an expert by now,' Mai joked as Yoko smiled slightly before moving closer to Mai.
"Yes you have done very well for yourself but there is still a lot you must learn," Yoko informed as the scenery changed to a lush green field instead of the sight of gloomy darkness Mai had entered her dream in. "Now first of all Mai, you're out of body experiences of late have not only been caused by the demon, but by stress as well. Stress in your case if a large factor of your out of body experiences, the results of a stress induced out of body experience is the amount of time your spirit spends out of body," Yoko paused letting everything sink in the young school girls mind.
"Another cause for an out of body experience are your dreams, which obviously occur while you're dreaming. More so when you're on a case with SPR than not," Yoko continued adding the last part in to prove her point.
The two females now found themselves sitting down on the ground surrounded by tall grass and all kinds of wild flowers. After getting the ok to continue from Mai, Yoko did just that.
"The final way is by pure will power. With pure will power you'll be able to be in two places at the same time. For example it's like splitting your soul in half one remaining with your body the other elsewhere," Yoko informed as Mai ruffled her brow in confusion.
'Almost like what the demon in SPR's last case did,' Mai thought to herself as she was brought back to the present by Yoko speaking.
"Ok, let's give it a try, shall we?" Yoko laughed softly. "It's better to experience it for yourself to better understand," Yoko announced assuring the young girl next to her.
'What is it that I have to do?' Mai asked curiously a hint of fear rang through her body as she thought.
"Start by thinking of another place or person you would rather see," Yoko instructed as Mai kept her eyes open and her mind clear thinking of none other than Naru and the rest of SPR.
Within moments Mai's eyes widened with shock as she glanced over at Yoko who was sitting next to her. One of Mai's eyes was glazed over and seemingly picking up and seeing the conversation that Lin was having with Naru and Gene at that very moment at the restaurant first hand loud and clear almost as if she was there herself. Her other eye was glued on her surrounding in her dream world namely Yoko.
"Mai, what do you see?" Yoko pondered as Mai lowered her head sadly.
'Lin told them almost everything, I guess he was able to figure most of it out on his own,' Mai recalled as her one eye returned to normal.
"Oh… is that all," Yoko laughed shocking the young girl beside her. "Mai dear it's not such a bad thing having someone else who knows what you're going through especially someone like Koujo," Yoko announced as Mai's eyes widened yet again.
'Yoko, how do you know Lin and for that matter Naru and the others as well?' Mai asked wondering why it was that she didn't feel any bad vibes coming from Yoko.
"I'm truly sorry Mai I can't tell you the answer to that question at the moment." Yoko sadly remarked as Mai just smiled and nodded her understanding. "Next we have barriers and shields. Barriers are a barrier you can put up, they can protect you or a group of people. It's like hiding your spirits essence so no one can tell your there. It's doesn't take a great deal of your energy but it does require a clear mind set in order to erect one up," Yoko continued once again letting the information just given sink into Mai's mind.
"I can't emphasize this enough barriers and shields although they may seem to be the same thing they are not. Shields require a lot more PK energy, and can block any attack sent at you or the person or people your shielding. For example shielding yourself or someone else leaves you vulnerable. Your energy is being all used up on defense so there's no energy left for attacks," Yoko concluded as all the information slowly sunk into Mai's head.
'Is it possible to put up more than one barrier or shield at a time?' Mai asked curiously.
"It's not unheard of so yes I guess it is possible, but erecting more than one of either will leave you completely drained of energy," Yoko stated as Mai nodded in understanding.
'Is it possible to erect a barrier or shield while I'm out of body?' Mai wondered letting her curiosity get the best of her.
"Hmm, It might be easier in your case considering you have a better grasp of your PK while you're out of body," Yoko indicated reassuringly as Mai soon found herself falling back into a dreamless sleep.
End Dream: Flashback
'And that's what I learned this time around,' Mai informed to all in her thoughts. After the last couple of times Yoko appeared in her dreams Mai had made sure to inform Emme and the others of the lessons learned.
"Well it appears our little Mai's powers are growing indeed," Yun sobbed faking a couple of tears and acting as if she was drying her eyes with a tissue that magically appeared out of nowhere.
Mai joined Kana and Emme in the act of rolling their eyes and laughing at Yun for her melodramatics. After everyone had calmed down, the group made their way to the dining hall leaving Devon to watch over Mai's sleeping body.
"Kana here are the directions Jonny was able to acquire for us," Emme informed handing Kana a folded up piece of paper.
"Wait, Emme aren't you joining us?" Kana along with Yun and Mai wondered as they looked at the older lady before them.
"I better not," Emme stated as a matter of factly. "If Noll were to find out I had a part in any of this he'd have my head for sure," Emme concluded as the three other girls sighed sadly.
'You're not the only one,' Mai pouted as Emme shot her sister an apologetic look.
"There will be a time and place for Naru to find out that I am here helping you but now is not that time," Emme smiled reassuringly giving her sister a hug. "Plus who would make sure your body is properly looked after," Emme joked as Jonny rolled his eyes.
"To late for that excuses we already know Mai's body is well looked after with Devon here," Yun mumbled as Emme giggled to herself. Minutes after saying goodbye to Emme, Jonny, and Devon the three girls Kana, Yun, and Mai entered the awaiting limo outside and were soon on their way to the restaurant.
SPR on Location:
Night had soon turned to day as the still sleeping SPR members slowly awoke from there slumber.
"Has there been any change in the amount of activity since we went to sleep last night?" Madoka wondered looking at some of the missed pieces of glass still lying on the floor behind the sofa.
"No," Naru harshly remarked as Gene cringed in reply.
"Naru's beyond pissed with myself and Lin at the moment," Gene whispered to the older women, who was Naru's teacher.
"Beyond pissed?" Naru shouted. "And why wouldn't I be anything less than that?" Naru wondered still shouting getting the rest of SPR's attention.
"Naru what's got you all wound up?" Monk asked from across the room where John, Ayako, and Masako along with himself packed up the sleeping bags.
"Naru instead of yelling and glaring at everyone it would be a good idea to just tell us what's going on," Masako chimed in her kimono sleeve forever at her mouth in the process.
"Fine but I will only say it once," Naru sighed angrily but before another word came out of the work-a–holic's mouth Lin spoke.
"Naru's in a bit of a mood because I had informed him and Gene while the rest of you were sleeping the connection between the Demon and Mai," Lin stated still typing away at his laptop while speaking as a number of gasps filled the room.
"Lin what is the connection?" John asked worriedly as Lin stopped his typing to exchange glances with Gene and Naru.
"It's not important at the moment," Naru remarked not taking his eyes off the paper he was reading.
"Naru this is Mai were talking about," Ayako shouted angrily at her boss for not taking the feelings of others into consideration.
"Ayako I'm sure my brother is very much aware of that fact," Gene pointed out after noticing Naru wasn't going to say anything in response. "It's just that we still have no idea where Mai, Kana, and Yun are," Gene announced sadly causing the miko to sit down on the sofa and ponder.
"So there's really nothing we can do until we find them," Monk commented.
"That is correct Monk, and for the moment I don't think it's a good idea to bring Mai here even if we did find her," Lin spoke shocking several of the members of SPR with his comment.
"Lin?" Yasuhara called out curiously. "What do you mean it's a bad idea to bring Mai here she hasn't really been here only in one of her out of body experiences," Yasuhara stated as a matter of factly.
"Oh my god," Masako gasped as it finally clicked in her head Hiro Endo's last conversation with them. "Mr. Endo had stated during our last conversation with him that it would take more than the likes of everyone physically here to get rid of the demon," Masako recalled putting empiesese on physically as another round of gasps filled the room.
"If we were to find Mai and bring her here, we would just be playing even more into the demons hands," Monk announced annoyed as the room went silent.
"Now you understand," Naru scuffed putting his papers he was reading down and looking at the members of SPR. "Let's get to work now," Naru snapped sending Madoka a glare silencing his teacher from making a comment on his manners.
Meanwhile as SPR was just getting to work the Demon who was on the second floor right above them began as well.
"Today is the day we finish off the member's of SPR," the Demon laughed as several will -o –wisps floated around said demon. One by one the will – o- wisps were being devoured by the demon's own spirit.
Limo:
Kana, Yun, and Mai sat silently for the majority of the two hour ride to the restaurant. The limo was now only 10 minutes away from the restaurant. Mai was the one to break the silence of the ride with a sharp gasp of her own, heard by Kana and Yun in their minds.
"Mai you ok?" Kana asked confused at her young charges sudden action as she moved to the seat next to the young school girl. The young school girls eyes had widened within seconds as one of her eyes began to cloud over.
"Mai your right eye has completely clouded over," Yun cried out also joining the two others in the back row of the limo.
'The demon is starting to devour the other spirits and he's getting stronger by the minute. We have to hurry,' Mai cried inwardly as Yun and Kana glanced at one another before turning back to Mai.
"Mai your right eyes back to normal now," Yun reassured as Kana was now speaking with the driver on the phone located in the side panel of the limo.
'I'm ok now Yun," Mai reassured as the limo slowly came to a stop across the street from the restaurant.
"Finally," Kana whispered as the limo door opened and the three young ladies emerged on the side walk. "The demonic aura is so strong here," Kana pointed out once they had a clear view of the restaurant. Yun moved to put Kana's arm over her shoulder to sturdy the medium for the demonic aura was that strong.
"Dang it at this rate we enter the restaurant and our own energy will be sapped dry," Yun cursed gripping harder on Kana's waist to try and hold the older girl up now.
'A barrier will help us here,' Mai informed as Kana and Yun sighed in defeat it was the only way the three where going to make it inside.
"Mai I will know when you have erected the barrier," Kana announced reassuring the youngest member present.
Within a few minutes of concentration Mai was finally able to erect a barrier around all three of the ladies. Standing up straight and reassuring Yun of her own stability Kana was able to stand on her own.
'Wow it worked,' Mai thought to herself as the three females now stood right in front of the restaurant.
Base:
"Naru what next Masako and Gene both sense the demon getting stronger," Monk indicated as the members of SPR sat waiting for their orders.
"It's only a matter of time before he attacks the base the wards won't hold up for much longer," Gene informed as he joined the other members of SPR in silence. Moments later the SPR door burst open sending all the members of SPR to their feet including Lin and Naru. A collection of gasps echoed the room as Yun and Kana made their way into the room with Mai's transparent form being the last to enter shutting the door behind her.
"Well this was better than I expected," Yun joked as the three females stunned the other members of SPR into silence.
'Better late than never,' Mai thought to herself as she took in her surroundings glancing at the shocked faces of her co-workers standing before her. One pair of eyes seemed to pierce into the young school girl's body even if it was transparent. Meeting the gaze of the one she loved the one that had dumped her before they even started going out, a sadness over took her whole body and for a split second the barrier had been dropped. Before Kana could even feel the barrier drop Mai composed herself and the barrier was once again erected. 'That look in his eyes is he actually showing some kind of emotion? It can't be worry,' Mai concluded sadly to herself as she continued to scan the room
"She has finally arrived Let the fun begin," the demon smirked as he sensed Mai's presence in that split second her guard was down.
TBC…..
AN: I would like to thank everyone for being so understanding and patient with me in putting up this chapter. I feel deeply sorry that it has taken me this long to post another chapter seeing as I was doing so good at keeping a pretty good deadline lol (if it could be called that). Alas things happen and once again I'm sorry. This chapter is shorter than the last couple of chapters as well and I'm sorry once again for that. With that said I hope you enjoy this chapter and please no killing me for yet another cliffhanger. I couldn't help myself :) I had to have some fun too after awhat 6 month hiatus. An a little hint pssstttt reviews help me write faster. Till next time (which I promise will be within the next week or two) ENJOY! R&R.